High blood pressure puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. It can also lead to serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes if left untreated.

Alarmingly more than one in four adults in Britain have high blood pressure – but many go undiagnosed.

People who are overweight and over 65-years-old are more likely to get the condition, but there are some simple ways you can prevent it.

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Research, published in the journal Complete Nutrition, found eating beetroot can help reduce blood pressure.

The purple vegetable reduces hypertension by helping the blood flow more easily.

Beetroot, which retails for less than £1 in most UK supermarkets, contains nitrates that have a dilating effect on the blood vessels, which in turn helps to lower blood pressure.

The vegetable is also a source of key nutrients like folate, potassium and vitamin C.

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SUPERFOOD: Beetroot contains nitrates that help lower blood pressure

The NHS website also suggests reducing your salt intake, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine and losing weight.

“There is robust evidence that action to lower blood pressure does reduce the risk to health,” says Public Health England.

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On his website he wrote: “You probably know by now that you burn more calories eating celery than you consume,” he said on his website.

“But did you know that it’s good for high blood pressure?

“Every time you eat celery, its nutrients help to keep high blood pressure in check.”